The Influence of Race in Juvenile Justice Processing

Abstract

This article examines the effect of defendant's race on juvenile justice processing in a large southern state. The study traces the movement of a cohort of over 50,000 youths through multiple decision-making stages from intake screening to judicial disposition. After controlling for legal and processing variables in multivariate analyses, we find that race has a direct effect on decisions made at several processing junctures. Indirect and cumulative effects of race are also addressed and implications for future research explored.

A multilevel analysis of juvenile court processes: The importance of community characteristics

“…Further, the racial disparities occur in multiple decision points. For example, Bishop and Frazier (1988) found that Blacks were more likely to be formally processed, referred to court, adjudicated delinquent, and received more severe dispositions than White juveniles. Similarly, Pope and Feyerherm (1990) found that…”

“…Studies have also shown that legal factors such as offense seriousness, prior record, and probation violations are stronger predictors of detention status and prosecutorial referral than race (Bishop & Frazier, 1996;Bishop & Frazier, 1988;O'Neil, 2002;Hindelang, 1978;Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Lynch, 2002).…”

“…Studies have found that racial disparity is most pronounced in the beginning stages of involvement with the juvenile court system, specifically the intake and detention decision points (Bishop & Frazier, 1988, 1996Bortner & Reed, 1985;Leiber, 1994;Leiber & Fox, 2005;Leiber & Jamieson, 1995;Leiber & Mack, 2003). In fact, research shows that being detained is a strong predictor of severe treatment at disposition (Bishop & Frazier, 1988, 1992Bortner & Reed, 1985;Feld, 1993;Frazier & Bishop, 1995;Johnson & Secret, 1995;McCarthy & Smith, 1986).…”

“…In fact, research shows that being detained is a strong predictor of severe treatment at disposition (Bishop & Frazier, 1988, 1992Bortner & Reed, 1985;Feld, 1993;Frazier & Bishop, 1995;Johnson & Secret, 1995;McCarthy & Smith, 1986). …”

“…Also, White and middle class juveniles are more likely to be filtered out of the system at earlier decision points than are poor and minority juveniles (Bishop & Frazier, 1988). Bishop and Frazier (1996) suggest juveniles from lower class families may be processed formally through the court in order to receive the treatment they were unable to receive privately.…”